Ambrose said that given Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould’s fundraising activity at a Toronto law firm is in direct violation with the prime minister’s own code of conduct, “When will he direct the Liberal Party to give the money back?”

Trudeau said the Liberal Party of Canada has always followed all the rules and regulations involved with Elections Canada and political donations.

“The fact is Canadians were tired of the way the previous government functioned, and that is why we are committed to openness and transparency” said Trudeau.

Dominant topic

Conservatives continued to accuse International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland of charging taxpayers $20,000 for a stopover in L.A., from Manila, in order to appear on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.”

Conservative MP Blaine Calkins asked Freeland when her staff started booking her meetings for the L.A. trip, and suggested that it could have been before she was even minister.

Freeland said “once again the Conservatives are trying to concoct a story where there isn’t one.”

“It is my job to promote Canada and Canadian business around the world. Following the APEX Summit in the Philippines, I was proud to visit California, one of our largest trading partners, larger than Japan, Germany or the U.K., and where I held six business round tables,” said Freeland, adding that the Conservatives’ accusations “are absolutely wrong.”

Calkins said the minister’s trip cost taxpayers $20,000 “just to get schooled by an American comedian.”

Freeland said that unlike the Conservatives, “who don’t really like the media, I know it’s my job to promote Canada to the world.”

The exchange on the topic continued with Conservative MP’s Karen Vecchio and Jacques Gourde chiming in.

Vecchio accused Freeland’s staff of organizing meetings in L.A. so no one would notice that Freeland expensed the trip, which prompted Freeland to list at least six people who she met with including U.S. senators, the CEO of IMAX, and the deputy mayor of L.A.

Newsmaking exchange

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale confirmed that the Liberal government will follow through on its promise to introduce a national Public Safety Officer Compensation Benefit.